Foreign students at Harvard University from the Trump administration ban

When Shrea Michera Redi was accepted at Harvard University in 2023, her parents were “ecstasy”.

“It is the final school that anyone in India wants to enter,” I told BBC.

Now, with graduation, she was just around the corner, she had to break the bad news of her family: she may not graduate in July from the executive leadership program after that The Trump administration has moved to prevent Harvard from registering international students “As a result of their failure to adhere to the law.”

“It was very difficult for my family to hear it. They are still trying to treat it,” she told the BBC.

Mrs. Reddy is one of about 6800 international students at Harvard University, who make up more than 27 % of her records this year. They are a decisive source of revenue for the Ivy League school. About a third of its foreign students from China, and more than 700 Indian, such as Mrs. Reddy.

All of them are not sure of what can be expected after that. Harvard University described the move as “illegal”, which may lead to a legal challenge.

But this leaves the future of students in a state of forgetfulness, whether it is those who are waiting for registration this summer, in the middle of the road through the college, or even those who are waiting for graduation whose job opportunities are related to their student visas.

Those who are already at Harvard University will have to move to other American universities to stay in the United States and keep their visas.

“I hope Harvard will stand for us and some solutions will be resolved,” says Ms. Reddy.

The university said it is “completely committed to maintaining the ability () to host our international students and scientists, who are from more than 140 countries and the university – and this nation – unlimited.”

This step against Harvard has significant effects on one million international students or so in the United States. This is followed by an increasing campaign by the Trump administration in higher education institutes, especially those that witnessed major protests supporting the Palestinians on the campus.

Dozens of them are facing investigations, as the government tries to repair their credit and reshape its way of operating.

White House First threatened to grant foreign students from Harvard University In April, after the university refused to make changes in employment, admission and teaching practices. It also freezes nearly 3 billion dollars in federal scholarships, which Harvard represents a challenge in court.

However, the Thursday’s announcement left students to reel.

Chinese student Cat Shi, in her second year on STEM, says she is “in shock.”

“I almost forgot (the previous threat of ban) and then a announcement on Thursday suddenly.”

But she adds part of it, expected the “worst”, so she has spent the past few weeks to seek professional advice on how to continue to stay in the United States.

She says the options are “all very annoying and expensive.”

The Trump administration seemed to be unique to China when Harvard University accused of “coordination with the Communist Party of China” in its statement.

Beijing responded on Friday by criticizing “politicization” of education.

She said that this step “will only harm the international image and status of the United States,” which urges to withdraw from the ban “as soon as possible.”

“Nothing is what we have participated in,” says Abdullah Shahid Siel, who is 20 years old from Pakistan, a very audio activist.

He was a specialist in mathematics and applied economics, and was one of the Pakistani Bachelor’s students who were accepted at Harvard University in 2023.

He was also the first person in his family studying outside. It was a “huge” moment for them, he says.

He adds that the situation he finds now is “ridiculous and hit by humanity.”

Mrs. Reddy and Master told foreign students to go to the college in the United States because they see it as a welcome place where opportunities abound.

“You have a lot to learn from different cultures, from people from different backgrounds. Everyone really appreciates it,” says Ms. Reddy, adding that this was her experience at Harvard University so far.

But Mr. Siel says this has changed recently and foreign students are no longer welcomed – Trump administration Hundreds of students’ visas and even students detained in universities were canceled Throughout the country. Many of them were associated with the protests supporting the Palestinians.

Now, Mr. Siel adds, there is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the international student community.

This only aggravated through the recent development. South Korea’s high school student says she has second ideas about returning home for the summer because she is afraid that she will not be able to re -enter the United States.

She did not want to reveal her name because she was concerned that she would affect her chances of staying in the United States. It is one year away from graduation.

She said she had a tired semester and was looking to “reunite with friends and family” – so far.

Jiang Vangzhou, who reads the public administration at Harvard Kennedy School, says the concern among foreign students is clear.

“We may have to leave immediately, but people live their lives here – apartments, contracts, seasons and society. These are not things you can stay away from overnight.”

The 30 -year -old New Zealand says that the ban not only affects the current students.

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Additional reporting by Managhan Chang